Archbishop Jean-Claude Hollerich, president of Justice and Peace Europe, and Bishop Oscar Cantú, chairman of the US bishops’ Committee on International Justice and Peace, issued today a declaration arguing for “the total elimination of nuclear weapons.” Entitled “Nuclear Disarmament: Seeking Human Security,” the declaration was issued to coincide with the conclusion of a meeting hosted this week by the United Nations “to negotiate a legally binding treaty to prohibit nuclear weapons, leading towards their total elimination"

Justice and Peace Europe appeals for amending the Catechism of the Church

In a letter sent today to Cardinal Peter Turkson, the president of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, the president of Justice and Peace Europe and Archbishop of Luxemburg, Jean-Claude Hollerich, expressed his support for Pope Francis in his position concerning the death penalty.

Statement of Justice and Peace Europe on recent decisions of the Council of the European Union

In recent months and years, media leaks have revealed the shocking extent of systematic tax fraud and aggressive tax avoidance. Tax havens and loopholes in the legislation of many countries are at the origin of this scandal which has the potential to undermine democracy. In particular, multinational companies and very rich individuals have profited from this situation. In a period of growing income inequalities taxation must become fairer. That everybody and every company pays its fair share of taxes must be a key policy goal. In this respect, the OECD “Base Erosion and Profit Shifting Project” (BEPS) and its transposition into national law are pivotal. In line with the BEPS project, the European Commission has taken the lead within the European Union (EU) and currently pursues an ambitious agenda. Although taxation matters require unanimity among member states some progress has been made and recent decisions in the Council of the EU have been encouraging.

Since 19 April 2015, when 800 people died in a boat disaster in the Mediterranean off the Libyan coast, the European institutions have intensively addressed the issue of migration and the treatment of refugees in Europe and on its borders. The Executive Committee of the European Conference of Justice and Peace Commission (Justice and Peace Europe) joins the public debate at this stage to welcome all efforts for a more compassionate treatment of those who have been forced to abandon their country because of war and civil unrest, natural disaster or unbearable economic and social conditions. It also draws attention to Europe’s responsibility to work for justice and peace in the world and - accordingly - to design long-term policies for conflict prevention and transformation and for sustainable development. Justice and Peace Europe strongly invites those member states of the European Union who are opposed to a fairer allocation for welcoming refugees and asylum seekers to reconsider their position.